28 Jul 2013

Some Members of Parliament (MPs) have called for the reinstatement of Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) board members and employees who were fired after they exposed malpractices at the failed glass manufacturing project.

Some MPs called for the re-emplyment of Ms Rosemary Mogorosi, who was dismissed when she pointed out issues of corruption. The MPs said she should be re-employed together with three other board members, Mr Nightingale Kwele, Mr Odirile Merafhe and Mr Thuso Dikgaka.

Kgatleng East MP, Mr Isaac Mabiletsa applauded the four for standing steadfast against corruption. Ms Mogorosi was dismissed by the BDC management while the three board members were fired by the Minister of Finance and Development Planning.  He said it was unfair for Ms Mogorosi to suffer ‘economic suffocation’ as she lost her job and did not have any source of income.

Mr Mabiletsa called for the resignation of the finance and development planning minister, Mr Kenneth Matambo, saying he should take full responsibility for the mishap.

Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi said he had been vindicated as he had for a long time been talking about the powers vested in ministers to appoint board members and chief executive officers of parastatals.

Mr Mmolotsi said since the minister was responsible for oppointing them, he had to take the blame and resign. He added that he would not accept that the minister was misled. He said incidents such as these would never end when ministers remained the appointing authority.

Tonota South MP, Mr Pono Moatlhodi concurred with his counterparts, saying BDC was an important arm in the development of the country, and that it was important that all reports of corruption are dealt with. Mr Moatlhodi said the two Batswana women who came up with the idea of a glass factory should have a stake in the project, as they had shown its viability and sustainability.

Palapye MP, Mr Moiseraele Goya noted that he and his constituents had been hit the hardest as they had expected a lot from the project in the form of employment creation. He said since 500 people were to be employed at the factory, they were expecting a lot only to be let down by corrupt practices.

Mr Goya said unfortunately the project collapsed at the time when the economy was going through challenging times. He further said the land on which the project sat was fraudulently acquired, as they thought BDC were applicants only to learn that it actually belonged to the partners, Fengyue Glass Manufacturing (Botswana), to which Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Dorcas Makgato-Malesu responded by saying any company involved in a joint venture project with BDC might be allocated a plot.

MP Goya further called for action to be taken against BDC’s legal advisors who failed to rescue the company. He said people such as Ms Mogorosi were important to the country and should retain her former job.

On the project, Mr Goya noted that alot of machinery and other equipment used in the construction of the project was dilapidated. He said more costs would be incurred as new ones would be needed.

For his part, Shoshong MP, Mr Phillip Makgalemele said he wondered why the project continued despite a warning that although close to P1 billion would be used to start the project, it had marginal profits.  Mr Makgalemele said the BDC management had too many powers while the board was not monitored resulting in bad corporate governance. ENDS